31From Benjamin Franklin to [Mary Hewson], [after 27 November 1778] (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society I am sometimes apprehensive that my not Writing to you, may give you some Pain: but I have fear’d on the other hand that my Writing might subject you to greater Pain. Yet I cannot forbear desiring to know how you do from time to time, & wishing that you should know my Love for you & yours continues unchang’d and unchangeable. I have also great...
32The American Commissioners to Gentlemen at Nantes, 27 [i.e., 28] November 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives We are desired by the Ministry to inform ourselves as precisely as possible, at what Time the Vessells bound to America will be ready to Sail.—it is Said that upon a former Occasion the Convoy was obliged to wait a long Time, an Inconvenience that it is wished may be avoided upon this occasion. We beg your earliest...
33From Benjamin Franklin to David Hartley, 29 November 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : National Library of Scotland; transcript: Library of Congress I have heard nothing from you lately concerning the Exchange of the Prisoners. Is that Affair dropt? Winter is coming on apace. I understand that your charitable Contribution is near expended, and not likely to be renewed. Many of those unfortunate People must suffer greatly. I wish to have a Line from you, informing me what...
34The American Commissioners to Sartine, 30 November 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives In Answer to your Excellencys Letter of the Twenty fifth of this Month, We have the Honour to inclose, four Papers, with Blancs to be filled as your Excellency may have occasion. These Requests being all the Protection in our Power to give, We hope will have the desired Effect and We have the Honour to be &c In JA ’s hand.
35Franklin’s List of Books Lent, November 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AD : American Philosophical Society Books lent To Mr Le Roy, Adair on Heat Count. Montfort Priestly on Education Abbé de la Roche two Geneva Pamphlets Swedish Ambassador—Carver’s Travels On the last page of his Cash Book (Account XVI, XXVI , 3), BF began to keep a record of the books he was loaning to friends. Despite the November, 1778, heading, later publication dates of some of the works...
36From Benjamin Franklin to Genet, 1 December 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress I sent some Boston Papers, (as late as the first of October,) last Week, to Mr Vergennes. I suppose you saw them. They contain particular Accounts of the great Harmony between Count D’Estaing’s Fleet & the People of the Country. I never heard of Gen. Washington’s writing such a Letter as you mention, and therefore I believe the Story to be false. I have the honour to...
37From Benjamin Franklin to Jacques-Donatien Le Ray de Chaumont, 4 December 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Extrait d’une Lettre de Boston, datée le 28 Octobre 1778. Le General Heath de cette Ville a recu hier un Exprés de General Washington, portant que 17 Vaisseaux de Ligne, 20 Fregates, & 170 Vaiseaux de Transport, avoient partis de la Nouvelle York le 19 de ce Mois, & qu’il étoit soupçonné qu’ils étoient destinées pour attaquer Boston. — Il y a d’autres qui...
38The American Commissioners to Gentlemen at Nantes, 5 December 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives We have, the Mortification to be informed, that our Answer to your Letter, requesting Us to join, in your Request to the Ministry for a Convoy has never reached you. We have the Honour to Send you a duplicate of that which We wrote you on the Eleventh Ulto. and send forth with. We also inclose Copy of our other Letter...
39The American Commissioners to Horneca, Fizeaux & Cie., 6 December 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives We have never received from you, any Intelligence concerning the Progress, which you have made, in the Loan, which has been opened by you for the united States of America. We are anxious to be informed that We may be able to acquaint our Constituents, and regulate our own Conduct in other Things. We should therefore be...
40Suppositions and Conjectures on the Aurora Borealis, [before 7 December 1778] (Franklin Papers)
(I) and (II) AD (draft): Library of Congress; D : Bibliothèque de l’Institut de France; two copies: Library of Congress On December 3, 1778, at six o’clock in the evening, the sky lit up with what physicist Pierre Bertholon described as the most spectacular auroral display in recent memory. Huge patches of vivid red flashed in all corners of the heavens; columns of color and bursts of light...
41The American Commissioners to Richard Price, 7 December 1778 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Yale University Library By one of the latest Ships from America, We had the Pleasure of receiving from Congress, an attested Copy of their Resolution of the sixth of October in these Words That the Honourable Benjamin Franklin Arthur Lee, and John Adams Esqrs or any one of them, be directed forthwith to apply to Dr Price, and inform him, that it is the Desire of Congress to consider him...
42The American Commissioners to Vergennes: Letter and Memoir, 7 December 1778 (Franklin Papers)
(I) LS and copy : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives; (II) LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères We have the Honour to inclose to your Excellency a Memorial of very great Importance to the United States, to which We beg your Excellency’s Attention and a favourable Answer. We have the Honour to...
43From Benjamin Franklin to Dumas, 7 December 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society I thank you for the Information you give me of Mr. Lee’s Proposition. I do not think he has any Powers to borrow Money for the United States distinct from ours but he may have Power to borrow for Virginia. I think you acted very discretely in the Business; and I am sorry that such a Proposition should be made, as, if known it might have bad Consequences....
44From Benjamin Franklin to the Abbé Martin Lefebvre de La Roche, 7 December 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Bibliothèque nationale Voici, mon cher Maitre, deux Exercices de plus:— L’un est la Suite de l’Hypothese; l’autre en forme de Billet à Nôtre Dame d’Auteuil. — Je suis charmé toujours de vos Corrections, mais comme je vois par ceux que vous avez faits vers le fin du 22e Article que je n’ai pas été assez clair pour étre entendu, Je crois qu’il sera mieux d’omettre les dernieres 5 ou 6...
45To Benjamin Franklin from Madame Brillon, with Franklin’s Undated Reply, [10 December and after 10 December 1778?] (Franklin Papers)
(I) AL : American Philosophical Society; (II) AL and copy: American Philosophical Society Once again Madame Brillon’s failure to date her letters compels us to offer a hypothetical cluster. The following exchange, along with her letters published under December 15 and 20, form a group linked by its common theme: a fantasy of paradise to come. The only solid clue to a date is her allusion here...
46Extract from Franklin’s Journal, 13 December 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress “A Man came to tell me he has invented a Machine, which would go of itself, without the help of a Spring, Weight, Air, Water, or any of the Elements, or the Labour of Man or Beast; and with force sufficient to work four Machines for cutting Tobacco; that he had experience’d it, would shew it me if I would come to his House, and would sell the Secret of it for Two...
47To Benjamin Franklin from A. Sube, ——— Laporte, and P. Fauchier, with Franklin’s Note for a Reply, 14 December 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Hier treize de ce mois nous avons celebré l’anniversaire de la fete etablie en l’honneur de nos bons amis et alliés les insurgents. Nous vous faisons passer un imprimé qui vous apprendra en detail ce qui s’est fait dans cette delicieuse journée. Nous avons bu au bruit des boëtes la santé du roy, celle des insurgents, et celle du comte d’estaing. Nous...
48From Benjamin Franklin to ——— Philip, 17 December 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society It being extreamly improper for me who am a Stranger here, to trouble the Ministers with Solicitations for Persons unknown to me & in Affairs the Nature of which I am ignorant of, I must beg you to excuse my not doing what you desire of me. I return your Papers, as they may be of use to you, & am, Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant In answer to...
49The American Commissioners to All Whom It May Concern, 18 December 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives These are to certify that the Bearer of this, Mr Gillam Tailor, is a Native and an Inhabitant of Boston in the State of Massachusetts Bay, that he is of a respectable Family, and unexceptionable Character. That he has acted for Some Years, in the public Service of the united States of America, in the Capacity of...
50From Benjamin Franklin to [Jean-Baptiste] Le Roy, [after 18 December 1778] (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society M. Franklin requests M. Le Roy to tell him the Name of the present Governor of Dominique, who is the Husband of one of the Ladies where we din’d at Epinay.— Also the Name of the Gentleman at whose house we din’d, M. F. having forgot it— This note may well be linked to Christopher Baldwin’s letter of Dec. 18. Right after the conquest of Dominica by the...
51“Conseils aux Ministres Anglois”: A Satire Possibly by Franklin, [c. 22 December 1778] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in Affaires de l’Angleterre et de l’Amérique , vol. XIII , cahier LII , pp. xxvii–xxxi While no direct evidence links Franklin to this satire and his contributions to the Affaires were infrequent, we believe he may have written this piece. Its subject matter is the October 3 manifesto of the Carlisle commission, in which Britain threatened to use every means in her power to destroy the...
52From Benjamin Franklin to Genet, 24 December 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress If any News Papers should come to your Hands from London directed to Mr Benson, they are for me & I shall be oblig’d to you for sending them to me. I am, with much Esteem, Dear Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant Addressed: A Monsr / Monsieur Genet / Bureau des Interprétes / à Versailles “Benson” was the code name Edward Bancroft had adopted for his dealings with...
53The American Commissioners to Sartine, 25 December 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Translation: Archives de la Marine Nous avons l’honneur d’adresser à V.E. la copie ci jointe de la lettre que nous avons reçu de M. Langdon, de Portsmouth, ville de l’Etat de New-hampshire. Nous serons très satisfaits si l’avis qu’elle contient peut être utile à V.E. Tout ce que nous pouvons dire c’est que nous ne doutons pas que M. Langdon ne soit très capable d’exécuter ce qu’il propose; Et...
54From Benjamin Franklin to the Baron Otto von Blome, 25 December 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from American State Papers (38 vols., Washington, 1832–61), XXXVI (Class IX : Claims), 225 I have considered this proposition, and see no objection to it. I will write to the Congress in favor of it, if desired. The Congress, it is to be presumed, will draw no bills of exchange on me without enabling me to pay them. We have paid all their bills hitherto. I have no doubt of Mr....
55From Benjamin Franklin to Stephen Sayre, 25 December 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Extract: National Archives I have considered the proposition you mention & have given my approbation to it in the fullest manner. I wish you success in carrying it into execution. In Sayre’s hand and submitted in support of his claims for compensation: see the preceding document. He supplied the dateline.
56From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams and Arthur Lee, [before 28 December 1778] (Franklin Papers)
Copies: National Archives (two), Harvard University Library; transcript: National Archives Monsieur de Monthieu earnestly requests that his accounts may be finished. The receipts were left here some time since. He also repeats his request to be favoured with the Anchors. As we have refused to sell them, he will if we will send them to him deliver them in America to our order. They may thus go...
57Franklin and John Adams to Arthur Lee, [28 December 1778] (Franklin Papers)
AL : Yale University Library Dr Franklins & Mr Adams Compts to Mr Lee & inform him Mr Monthieu is here, and being bound to Nantes is desirous of settling his account. Beg Mr Lee to come, directly if he can, and bring, any of Mr Monthieus Papers if he has any. Addressed: Mr Commissioner Lee Endorsed: F. & A. about settlg Montieu’s accts. In JA ’s hand. The Monday preceding Lee’s comments on...
58The American Commissioners to John Ross, 29 December 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives We have received your Letters of the fifteenth and Twenty-fourth of December, with their Enclosures, and once more assure you, that We have no Authority, to do any Thing in your Affairs, untill you have Settled your Accounts.— Whenever you Shall be ready to lay your Accounts before Us, We shall be ready to receive them...
59The American Commissioners to Vergennes, 29 December 1778 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives We have been favoured with a Letter signed by many Gentlemen of Nantes and dated the fifteenth of this Month, informing us that most of their Vessels were ready to sail to America, and that others were expected to be ready immediately, so that the Convoy need not wait...
60Franklin’s List of New Year’s Gifts and Gratuities, 29[-31] December 1778 (Franklin Papers)
D : University of Pennsylvania Library 29[-31]th. Decr. 1778. Livs Two embroider’d Work Bag’s 18 — Work Bag, with small Box &ca 21 — 2 small Ivory Cases with silver Pens 8 2 small Busts of Dr. Franklin 12. l.t. — 2 Horn Boxes 40. —